Summer Internship Program Expanded!

"I think I am in law school because of Mikva Challenge.  How many law school applicants have a letter of reference from Barack Obama?  That summer internship in his office and Mikva's leadership program changed my life."  -Erice Smith, Hales Franciscan High School '03, University of Kentucky Law School '10

Through the Mikva Challenge, Erice is one of the many Chicago high school students who get the opportunity each summer to intern in the offices of public officials. For most of these students, this is their first professional job, taking them out of their familiar neighborhood surroundings and introducing them to new people and new leadership opportunities.

This summer, Mikva young people will intern for elected officials in 70 offices, including U.S. Representative Danny Davis, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica. With funds from a federal stimulus grant, Mikva was able to double the number of students we hired this summer - from 65 to 130. But because federal guidelines bar grant money from going to young people with gross family incomes of more than $19,000 (that's just for a family of 3!), Mikva will pay out-of-pocket for about 40 students who don't qualify for the stimulus funds.

Some of these students who barely miss qualifying for financial support from the stimulus package tell us heart-rending stories: the young man whose family home is in foreclosure, or the young woman whose single mother makes only $1,000 more than the income cap. 

Mikva youth leaders need your help.

Will you support Mikva Challenge this summer and sponsor one of these youth leaders? It costs $1,500 to train and pay a student for his or her internship, which lasts from late June to early August. Any contribution, large or small, will make an impact on the lives of these developing youth leaders.

Mikva is providing some of the best summer jobs for youth you'll find in Chicago: these internships transform students' attitudes about what it's like to be an elected official, give them hands-on civic leadership experience and often serve as the catalyst for political involvement after high school.

Perhaps even more importantly, Mikva interns are making professional connections that they can use in college and beyond. That was certainly true for Erice Smith.

We hope you will sponsor a Chicago student like Erice this summer, and give him or her the rare opportunity to work alongside one of our elected officials in a meaningful, interesting and exciting way. You can make an online donation through our website by clicking here. You can also send a donation directly to the Mikva office: 25 E Washington, Suite 820, Chicago, IL 60602.

Thank you for your commitment to developing youth leaders in Chicago. Mikva Challenge is not able to do this work without the support of individuals like you.

Democracy is a Verb!

Stay up-to-date with Mikva Challenge news and events by signing up here to receive our e-newsletter. Click here to join our e-newsletter list.